Automatic record-changing apparatus



y 1944' F. KAHL ETAL 72,348,257

. AUTOMATIC RECORD-CHANGING APPARATUS I I Original Filed July 30, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS KA H L May 9, 1944. KAHL AL 2,348,257

v AUTOMATIC REQORD CI-IANGING APPARATUS Original Fild July 30, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2' FIG.3

INVENTORS y 9 F. KAHL ETAL 4 2,348,257

AUTOMATIC RECORD-[CHANGING APPARATUS Original Filed July so, 1940 5 Sheets-"Sheet s &

INVENTORS KAHL . BOOHER Patented May 9,

UNITED STATES PATENT Orr-lea AUTOMATIC RECORD-CHANGING APPARATUS Fritz Kahl, Fort Wayne, and Ortis C. Booher,

Huntington, Ind., assignors to Farnsworth Television and Radio of Delaware Corporation, a corporation Continuation of application Serial No. 348,576, July so, 1940. This application m 21, 1942,

' Serial No. 452,410

2 Claims. (CL- 274-) This application is a continuation of our appli-- An object of the present invention is to providecontrol mechanism for positioning the pickup arm of improved and simplified construction. A further object of the present invention is to provide improved control mechanism for posi-' tioning the pickup arm for engaging the initialplaying groove of various sized records.

A further object of the invention is to provide control mechanism for the positioning of the pickup arurfor engaging the initial playing sroove of various sized records which is automatically adjusted by the movement of record supporting mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide control mechanism for positioning the pickup armfor engaging the initial playing groove of various sized records, which control mechanism is automatically adjusted when the record changing apparatus is adapted to handle records of diflerent sires.

In accordance with thepresent invention there I isprovided an automatic phonograph which-includes record-changing apparatus, a turntable and a pickup arm with a stylus for reproducing a record on the turntable. The automatic phonograph also includes operating means associated with the pickup arm for moving the pickup laterally relative to the turntable. The operating means is adapted, to be adjusted to a plurality of positions for'positioning the stylus of the pickup arm over the initial playing groove of the record in playing position on the turntable. Adjusting paratus for handling at diflerent times records of different predetermined sizes. Upon the adaption of the record-changing apparatus for handling nection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is aside elevation view of the apparatus in Fig. l; A 1 t Fig. 3 is a rear elevation view of the apparatus in Fig. 1; Y r

Fig. 41s a bottom plan view of the apparatus below the base plate of the automatic phonoaph;

usedin the apparatus.

I cludes a base plate It. A turntable II is mounted Fig. 5 is a view of a friction clutch-assembly Referring now particularly vt'o'l 'ig. 1 of the drawings, the invention as illustrated is embodied in an automatic phonograph which intable I. A pickup or reproducer I s is supported at one end of 'a'pickup arm 2,. which is connected at its opposite end to a. shaft 2| (Figs. 2 and 3). The shaft 2| extends downwardly in a pedestal 22 and is rotatable relative thereto. The pedestal 22- is mounted on top of the base plate II and adjacent to the turntable It. The pickup arm 20 is mounted to rotate about the vertical axis of the shaft II to move across the face of a; record on the turntable as the stylus of the reproducer l9 follows the groove of the record. 7

The stack of records It is positioned above the turntablecentrally relative thereto by a'pin 28 extending downwardly from a plate 24. The plate 24 is pivotally supported at its opposite end upon a bracket II which is connected to the base plate records of predetermined size by the last menl tioned means, the operating means is automatically adiustedto position the stylus of the pickup For a better understanding of the invention to gether with further objects thereof, reference is made to the following description taken in con-' II and which extends upwardly therefrom.

The stack of records It is supported on shelves and 21A or 2113. The shelf 20 is supported on the. bracket 2! and the shelves 21A and 21B are supported by the bracket 2!. when the records supp rted above the turntable are ten-inch records or records of relatively small diameter, they are...supported .by edge "A of the shelf II and the shelf 21A. When the stack of records supported. above the turntable consists of twelveinch records or records of relatively large diameter, they are supported by edge "B of the shelf 28 and the shelf 213. The shelf" with its edges 26A and "B is clearly shown in Fig. 1.

in Fig. 3 bysprings 34.

The shelf 28 is connected to the upper end of a shaft 28. This assembly is supported by a bracket 28. The shelf 28 and the shaft 29 are mounted in the bracket 28 so that they are adapted to rotate relative theretog Thus, the shelf 2. may be rotated to different positions for supporting records of diflerent diameters, as will be described more fullyhereafter; When the shelf 26 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, it is adapted to support ten-inch records. When the shelf 28 is rotated 90 in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 1, it is adapted to support twelve-inch records.

The-shelves 21A and 21B areadapted to sup port ten-inch and twelve-inch records respectively. The shelf 21B is supported directly upon ly from the shelf 2113. The pins 30 with the imp rting shelves 21A and 21B carried thereby, are normally held in an uppermost position shown When the pins 30 are held in an uppermost position, they are adapted to maintain the stack of supported records free of a record releasing member and spindle to be describedhereafter.

The lower ends of the pins 30 which extend through and below the base plate I! are connected by a bar 38 (Fig. 3) which isprovided with a roller 36 (Fig. 4). The roller 38 is positioned so that it is capable of being engaged and actuated by a movable cam assembly, which will be. described hereafter, for lowering the bar as against the tension of the springs 34 to lower the shelves 21A and 218 when the lowermost supported record is to be released to playing position upon the turntable.

A spindle 38 aflixed to the turntable It to rotate therewith extends upwardly from the turntable. The lower portion 88A of the spindle, which extends upwardly to the height to which records may accumulate upon the turntable, performs the function of centering records on the turntable. Above the portion 38A the spindle 38 is prolonged to form an eccentric portion 383 terminating in a reduced portion 386 which is formed by notching the upper end of the spindle. The notching of the spindle forms a shoulder IUD. The reduced portion 380 of the spindle lies immediately under the overhead pin 23 centrically of its axis of rotation and eccentrithe shelves 21A and 21B are lowered by the downward movement of the pins 30., the lowermost supported record-moves into the path of the .portion 386 after which this'record is moved to playing position upon the turntable. A more detailed description of the movement of thesuPPr d ecord t P y g po it on 901 the 76 assaasv the drawings.- The shaft 4| extends above the base plate and is adapted to engage-a friction wheel 43, shown in Fig. 2, by dotted lines under the left-hand flange of the turntable. The friction wheel 43 is rotatably mounted above the base plate i5 and is in engagement with the shaft 4| and the flanged portion of the turntable it. When the electric circuit to the motor is closed, shaft 4| drives, through the friction wheel 43, the turntable i8 and the turntable shaft 42. The shaft 42 is suitably connected to the base plate l5, preferably in the manner shown in Fig. 2. The spindle 30, previously described, is fixed to the upper end of the shaft 42 and rotates therewith. Below the base plate II, the shaft 41 has aiiixed thereto a pinion gear '44 adapted to mesh with a cam gear 48.

.Thecam gear 4' is rotatably mounted from the bottom of the base plate on a shaft 41, preferably in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Several teeth are removed from the cam gear 46 at 48 to form a mutilated portion. The mutilated portion 40 serves the purpose of breaking the driving connection between the cam gear 48 and the pinion gear 44.

The shaft 42 is provided with a radially extending pin or projection 48, preferably mounted immediately above the pinion gear 44. The pin 49 is adapted to engage a pivotal lever Bl! mounted on the upper surface of thecam gear 48 when the pivotal lever is moved into its'path. During the playing of a record on the tumtablethe piva otal lever 50 is maintained out of the path of the pin 48 by a horizontally pivoted lever 82 which is affixed to the base plate it at 83. The lever 52 is adapted to be actuated by a tripping mechanism to be described hereafter, which in turn is actuated by the pickup arm 20. In moving toward the center of a record. the pickup arm 2| rotates the shaft 2|. to it a clutch mechanism 54, the detailed construction of which will be described hereafter,

which frictionally engages a lever 55. By this connection of the lever 55 to the clutch 54, the lever 56 is adapted to rotate with the shaft 2| and also is adapted to rotate relative to the shaft 2!.

Thus, as a record is being played and the pickup arm 20 moves toward the center of the record. the clutch mechanism 54 moving with the shaft 2|, moves the lever IS in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 4). The lever 85 is adapted to engage the side of a lever 55, one end of which is connected to the shaft II to move freely relative thereto. The free end of the lever ISO. is preferably turned downwardly and is adapted to engage the lower end of the lever 52. Each time the cam gear 48 completes a revolution, one end of the lever 82, previously described. engages one end of the lever II and moves it out of the path of the pin 49.

52 in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 4)

As the stylus of the pickup arm 20 approaches a tripping'groove of a record in playing position on the turntable; it moves the levers l5. II and One end of the lever 52 carries a spring I! which lies in the path of a cam 5| which is fixed to and rotates with the shaft-4:. The cam n peri- The shaft 2| has secured- 52 and with itthe levers 54 and 55 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 4),. the levers 55 and 58 changing their position relative to the pickup arm shaft 2| by, virtue of their relationship to the shaft 2|.

When the stylus of the pickup arm moves into a'tripping groove of the record that is being played, the pickup arm during a revolution of the turntable ismoved more than the distance that it was moved when it was tracking the playing groove of the record on the turntable. The abnormal movement of the pickup arm moves the levers 55and 56 a corresponding abnormal distance. The abnormal movement of the lever 56 moves the lever 52 in a clockwise direction (Fig; 4) to disengage the lever 50 and to permit it to initiate a record-changing cycle. If the clutch 54 properly set, which setting will be more clearly describedwhen this clutch is described in detail, the tripping mechanism will also operate when the pickup arm reaches a predetermined position from the center of the turntable. Under this condition when the pickup arm reaches the predetermined position from the center of the turntable, an ear 80 will come into engagement with an ear 8L. Thereafter, the lever 55- can be i moved in a clockwise direction (Fig. 4) only against the biasing action of a spring 62, as will presently be shown in greater detail when the detailed construction of the clutch 54 is de-' scribed. Thus. when the cam 58 strikes the spring 51 after the pickup arm has .reached the predetermined position from the center of the turntable, the levers 55, 5B and. are moved in a clockwise direction (Fig. 4) creating a tension on the spring 82. Immediately after the cam 58 passes out of engagement with the spring 5'I, the levers 55, 55 and 52 are returned in a 1 moves the ear 5!, a tension will be created in I the spring 52. As has been explained before.

counterclockwise direction by the tension on the spring 52. The return movement is sufflciently great so that the lever 52 is moved out of en gagement with the lever 55 which permits it to initiate a record-changing cycle.

The fixed stop 52 is secured to the bottom of the base plate l5. The stop 53 has an end 64 turned at right angles thereto, and is positioned in the path'of the movement of the lever 55. As the pickup arm 24 is swung to its outwardmost posiotherand the pickup arm 2| continues to move outwardly, the lever 55 adjusts itsangular position relative to the pickup arm through the slip center of the turntable. I The particular predetermined position at which the ears 5. and ii come into engagement with each other depends on the relationship of the clutch." to the shaft preferably of a fibrous material, is slipped over the plate "and around the sleeve of the member 55. A plate H with the tumed-down ear 6| is placed over the fiber washer "I0 and "around the sleeve of the member 5. The ear and the ear ii are so related that the clockwise movement (Fig. 4) of the plate 59' and the lever will bring the ear 50 into engagement with the ear ii. A spring washer I2 is placed over the plate II and around the sleeve of the member 55. A flanged cover member" is screwed on the sleeve of the member 56 so that the bottom of the flanged portion of the. cover member 13 rests on the spring washer 12. Pressure which is applied to therest of the members of the clutch 54 is adjustable so that the spring washer I2 maintains an even frictional engagement between the plate H and the fiber washer Ill. The spring 52 has one end connected to the peripheral wall of the member 66 and the other end to the turned-down ear 6|. readily seen that when the ear Gil engages and the tension created in the spring 52 will initiate the operation of the tripping mechanism when the pickup arm reaches a predetermined position from the center of the turntable.

Upon the release of the lever 50 from engagement with the lever 52, projection 49 engages one end of the lever 50 and moves it and therew th the cam gear 45 for enough. to bring gear 44', after which the cam gear 46 is rotated through one revolution. After one revolution the cam gear 46 will come to rest in the position during the record-changing cycle, it moves tion shown in Fig. 4.

The cam surfaces on the cam gear perform several functions. The cam surface 15 performs the first function. An arm 16 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends by means of a bracket 11 to the underside of the base plate ping connection provided by the clutch 54. As

a' result, the lever 55 is positioned well forward relative to the pickup arm as the pickup arm is returned to the initial playing groove of a record on the turntable and insures positive engagement of the levers 55, .54 and 52 prior to the time when the stylus of the pickup arm 20 reaches the tripping groove of a record or a predetermined position from the center of the turn-- table.

Various parts of the clutch 54 are shown in" Fig. 5. A flanged .sleeve' 55 is fixed to the pickup arm shaft II in a suitable manner so that the ear 45 engages the ear ii when the pickup arm reaches apredetermined position from the l5. The'arm It carries at one end a roller I8 which is biased into engagement with the cam surface by a' spring suitably connected to the bracket I'l. As the roller 18 follows the cam surface 15. it moves the left-hand end (Fig.

4) of the arm 15 upwardly. This movement in turn ra ses the pin 5| (Fig. 3) vertically in the hollow shaft 2|. The upper end of they pin engages the underside of the pickup arm 20 to I raise it.

The next function performed by the cam surfaces on the cam gear 46 is to swing the pickup arm 20 beyond the turntable to its outwardmost position. For this-purpose there is' provideda lever 82 (Figs. 3 and 4) which is affixed to the lower end of the shaft 2|. At the-free end of the lever 52, there is provided a pin '3.

Lateral movement of the lever 22 affects a cor- Thus, itwill be (Fig. 4) which is pivotally mounted at 88 to the underside of the base plate I5. The aperture 88 is sufficiently-large to permit the pin 88 of the lever 82 to move freely so as not to hinder the movement of the pickup arm while playing a record on the turntable. Toe 81 of the L-shaped lever 85 engages a cam surface 88 provided on r the cam gear 88. The toe 81 is continuously biased toward the cam surface 88 by a spring- 88. The spring 88 is fixed to the lever 85 and to the suitable fixed object as shown in Fig. 4. After the pickup arm 28 has been raised from the surface of the record on the turntable in the manner previously described, and as the cam gear 88 continues to rotate, the cam surface 88 moves the 'L-shaped lever 85 in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 4) about its connection to the base plate and causes the right-hand side (Fig. 4) of the aperture'88to engage and drive before it the pin 83. .The movement of the pin 88 moves therewith the lever 82, the shaft 2I and the pickup arm 28 in a radial direction relative to the turntable and away from the center of the turntable. The cam surface 88 is so shaped that the, L-shaped lever ,88 ceases its counterclockwise rotation (Fig. 4) at a time when the pickup arm 28 has been moved to its outwardmost position.

After the pickup arm 28 has been swung to its outwardmost position another record is'moved into playing position upon the turntable. The lowermost supported recordon the shelves and 21A or 2113 is moved by lowering the shelves 21A- or- 2113 until the lowermost supported record is engaged by the reduced portion 88C of the spindle 88. This movement of the shelves 21A or 213 is affected by the engagement of the cam surface 88 (Fig. 4) with the roller 88- ailixed to thebar 85 to lower the shelves 21A or 213. After the lowermost supported record .has been moved out of engagement with either the shelves 21A or 213, the cam surface 88moves out oi engagement with the roller 88 and permits the springs 88 to return the shelves 21A and 213 to their normal positions so that the rest of the supported records will be free of the reduced portion 88C.-

The cam gear 88 has by this time rotated sufliciently far so that the cam surface 88 allows the L-shaped lever. 88 to move in a clockwise direction (Fig. 4) under the biasing action of the spring 88 to return the pickup arm 28 to a position where the stylus of the pickup arm is over the initial playing groove of the record in As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the shelf 20. which is fixed to the upper end of the shaft 28 and is supported by the bracket 28, is adapted to be locked in a plurality of selected positions by a locking cam 88 secured to the lower end of the shaft 28. The cam 88 is provided with notches 88, 88 and 88 which are adapted to'be engaged by a pin 81 provided. on the free end of a lever Lever 88 is pivotally connected intermediate ends at 88 to the bottom of the base plate I8.

A spring I88, which is fixed to the lever and a suitable fixed object asshown in Fig. 4, normally biases the pin 91 into continuous engagement with one of the notches 98, 85 and 98.

5 Whenthe notch 98 engages the pin 91, the shelf 28 is locked in position to support ten-inch records. When'hthe notch 95 engages the pin 91, the shelf 28 is locked in position to support twelve-inch records, and when the notch 98 engages the pin 91, the shelf 28 is locked in nonsupporting position thus allowing the easy re-- moval of played records from the turntable. The opposite end of the lever 98 extends over the end of the lever 85 on which is provided a set screw I8I. As the lever 85 rotates about the 'point 88, the set screw is adapted to come into engagement with the end ofthe lever 98 and to be stopped thereby. When the apparatus being described is set to handle ten-inch records, the lever 85 is permitted to rotate far enough in a clockwise direction (Fig. 4) so that the toe 81 engages the cam portion 88 in the manner shown in Fig. 4 Just before the end of a record-changing cycle. The levers 85 and '82 are in such ad-L justment thatwhen the toe 81 and the cam portion 88 are in engagement as shown in Fig. 4. the stylus of the pickup arm 28 is over the initial playing groove of a ten-inch record in playing position upon the turntable I8. When the apparatus being described is in adjustment. for handling twelve-inch records, the lever' 98 does not permit the lever 85 to rotate in a clockwise direction (Fig. 4) as far as it rotated when the apparatus was in adjustment for the handling of ten-inch records. As a result of this, the lever 85 is stopped by the lever 88 before the toe 81 engages the cam portion 88.. Thus, the stylus of the pickup arm is positioned? over the initial playing groove of a twelve-inch record in playing position upon the turntable I8. The adjustable screw IN on the end of lever 85 is provided for changing slightly the positioning of the pickup am over a twelve-inch record., The inward movement of the adjusting screw I8I will change the positioning with the stylus oi the pickup arm outwardly relative to the center of the turntable, and the outward movement of the adjusting screw I8I will change the positioning of the stylus of the pickup arm 28 inwardly relative 88 to the center of the turntable.

Thus, it is evident that the manually positioning of the shelf 28 for supporting either a stack of ten-inch or twelve-inch records, automatically sets the pickup arm control mechanism for posi- 58 tioning'the pickup arm in a proper position to engage the initial playing groove of the size of record that is being handled by the mechanism being described.

In addition to the automatic tripping mecha- 80 nism previously described, there is also provided a manual trip lever I82 (Fig. 4) pivotally mount ed on the underside of the base plate I8. Thelower end I88 of the lever I82 is bent to extend upwardly through a slotted aperture I88 (Fig. 1)' 88 in the base plate I8. To this bent end I88 is fixed knob I88 (Figs. land 2). The lever I82 is normally biased by a spring I88 out of engagement with the turned-down lower end of the lever 82. However, the lever I82 may be pivoted man- '70 ually to engage the lower end 01' the lever 82 for moving itsupper endto disengage the lever 88 whereby, as has been previously described, the gearls is brought into driving engagement with the pinion 88 to carry out a record-changing in cycle.

' provided on the shaft 42.

scribed. After a stack of records has been placed- 'upon the shelves 26 and 21A or 213 associated with the brackets 25 and 28 respectively, and a record has been placed in playing position upon the turntable is, the pickup-arm 28 is moved manually to place the stylus in the initial playing groove of the record on the .turntable.

.The pickup arm 20 moves inwardly as the stylus follows the playing groove of the record and eventually reaches the tripping groove or a predetermined position from the center of the turntable where the automatic tripping mechanism is actuated by the movement of the levers 55. 56 and 52 (Fig. 4) responsive to the movement of the pickup arm 20, whereby the lever 52'is disengaged from the lever 50 and the lever 50 moves in a vertical plane into the path of the pin 49 Engagement of the pin. 49 withv the lever 50 causes the cam gear 46 to be rotated until its teeth mesh with the teeth of the pinion gear 44, after which the cam gear 46 is driven by the pinion gear 44 through a record-changing cycle.

As the cam gear 46 rotates, the cam surface 15 (Fig. 4) moves the arm 16 and raises the pickup arm off of the played record.

Continued movement of the cam gearcauses the ,cam surface 88 (Fig. 4) to move the L-shaped lever 85, and therewith the lever 82, to swing the pickup arm 20 to its outwardmost position.

Shortly thereafter. the cam surface 98 (Fig. 4) engages the roller 36 which forces the bar 35 downwardly, thus lowering the shelves 21A and 213 so that the lowermost supported record is moved on the shoulder 38!) of the spindle 38. The rotation of the spindle 38 moves this record from the shelves 21A or 21B. Immediately thereafter the springs 34 raise the shelves 21A and 21B- to their normal position, thereby raising the rest of thestack of unplayed records out of engagement with said spindle. The record on the shoulder 38D of said spindle is thereafter moved by the rotation of the spindle 38 to playing positionon the turntable.

vention, and it is, therefore, aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an automatic phonograph having recordchanging apparatus for handling records of re]- atively small diameter and relatively large diameter, a turntable and a pickup arm with a stylus for reproducing a record on said turntable, said pickup arm being adapted to move inwardly ,over said turntable and outwardly from said turntable, the combination comprising a means for controlling a record-changing cycle, a pickup arm control member having an aperture therein and engaging said means, means connected to said pickup arm and said pickup arm control member comprising a member within said aperture for engaging the walls thereof to control the movement of said pickup arm during a record-changing cycle, said aperture being of such size that it allows free movement of the pickup arm during moving said stop means in accordance with the I position of said record support whereby said pickup arm may be moved inwardly to a predetermined position with respect to said record.

2. In an automatic phonograph having recordchanging apparatus for handling records of relatively small diameter and relatively large diam- The cam gear 46 has by this time rotated sufiiciently far so that thecam surface 88 (Fig. 4) allows the L-shaped lever 85 to move clockwise (Fig. 4) under the biasing action of the spring '89 to return the pickup arm to a position where matic operations are initiated by the automatic tripping mechanism each time the-stylus in the reproducer moves into the inner groove of the record being played.

While there has .been described what is at present considered the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the in-- tosaid record.

eter, a turntable and a pickup arm with a stylus for reproducing a record on said turntable, said pickup arm being adapted to move inwardly over said turntable and outwardly from said turntable, the combination comprising a cam means for controlling a record-changing cycle, a pickup arm controllever having an aperture therein and engaging said cam means, meansconnecting said pickup arm and said control lever comprising a member within said aperture for engaging the walls thereof to control the movement of said pickup arm during a record-changing cycle, said aperture being of such size that it'allows free movement of the pickup arm during the playing of a record, a stop means positioned adjacent said pickup arm control lever to limit the movement of said control lever and said pickup arm when said pickup arm is moving inwardly with respect to said turntable during a record-changing cycle,

a record support adjacent said turntable movable to a plurality of positions for supporting records of different diameters :at their margins and means movable with said record support and engaging said stop means for moving said stop means in accordance with the position of said record support whereby said pickup arm may be moved inwardly to ,a predetermined position with respect oR'rIsQBoonEn. 

